From: sabesan (@ 64.163.212.44)
on: Wed Jun 20 02:02:05 EDT 2001
Seergaazhi never got the opportunities - mainly cause his voice never fits anyone.... but it was unique and it had the Gambeerum (IMO)..... and he was able to sing in any high pitch songs..... whatever songs he got to sing - he did his justice..... "aadi adangum vaazhkaaiadaaa".... "ullathil naaala ullaam".... "kadhalikaa naeramillai"....

From: mahesh (@ 202.9.147.38)
on: Thu Jun 21 00:33:46 EDT 2001
tms is like spb(it should be spb like tms). his songs can be heard even at midnight.but seerkazhi does not belong to that class and much below tms. like hariharan,shankar,harris of present day

From: Vishwesh (@ 203.197.134.210)
on: Fri Jun 22 12:24:40 EDT 2001
tms is like spb and sang all the songs he came across.
seerkazhi is like KJ Jesudas, singing with principles and discipline. singing only such songs which will suit their personality.

However both KJJ and seerkzhi never failed to give a sample of all the styles in their tfm songs to prove their ability. They have been choosy and swept junk songs in their carreer. They are respected as Classical musicians and humanitarians of class than as play back artistes.

From: V.Raju (@ 203.199.228.180)
on: Fri Jun 29 09:08:19 EDT 2001
Seerkazhi had expression, TMS had a little of it.
Seerkhazhi had lyrical perfectness, TMS was OK
Seerkazhi had a perfect sruthi alignment, TMS was OK
Seerkazhi had challenging hindustani classicals like "Sivashankari", TMS didnt have such classicals
Seerkhazhi was a trained artistic voice very difficult to imitate and sing, TMSs voice - you have it very commonly available in every street
Seerkhazi respected classical and devotional,TMS didnt bother much about classical, though his earlier devotional songs are good
Seerkhazhi is respected still for his magnanimity, skillful singing, & principled professionalism, TMS is yet to get that name still!

From: Cinema Virumbi (@ )
on: Sat Aug 31 05:33:47 EDT 2002
Friends,

I have the following trivia (two versions!)to share with you!

1. Remember ' Vendriduven' in APN's 'Agaththiyar'? , Agasthya (Seerkali-Seerkali)defeats Ravana (RS Manohar-TMS)in a song duel. Those days, somewhere APN had said that he had checked up with TMS if he had any objection to this sequence, for which TMS magnanimously replied " How does it matter? Only Ravana is defeated by Agasthya, not TMS by Seerkali!"

2. Whereas, much after APN's and Seerkali's demise, someone had written in Thuglak (??) that TMS indeed had an objection and then APN changed the scene as Ravana's Veena (and not his voice!) lets him down in the end when the strings start snapping one by one with Agasthya successfully melting the mountain!

We, lesser mortals, never come to know which is the correct version!!!!!

Before going into the details, let me add that TMS's voice is unique and is matchless to this day. His forays in higher octaves for several films for Sivaji under mainly GR is unparalleled.The beauty in his voice beggars description. That it matched Sivaji's voice is only to the benefit of the latter.
Seergazhi's voice is totally of a different kind. For me when SG sings, I can see only SG and not the artiste.His is also unique indeed. It is because of GR who gave him songs like Vanameedhil,Anbe en aramudhey(Gomathiyin kathalan), Sarasamohana (kokilavani),Oho nilraani(Chitoor Rani Padmini)and by some of KVM like Inbam engey inbam engey(manamulla marutharam), songs of Rajarajan,etc. that made one sit up and watch this singer.

Many years ago, TMS had shown a photograph in a magazine (Kumudam???) which he usually sends to his fans, when they request for one. It contains TMS' photo centrally printed inside a 'Vel'! My father strongly believes that taking this kind of extra liberty with 'Lord Muruga' could have led to the start of his downfall! He is entitled to his belief!

From: OISG (@ 193.188.97.152)
on: Sun Sep 1 01:16:00 EDT 2002
As a singer Sirkazhi is matchless.But if the topic is "Playback" singing it is TMS.Unfortunately not for many actors on the screen Seerkazhi s voice suited .Eventually pushed him to the asareeri side.Except for Thangavelu in few movies SG s voice never matched the actors.Howeer SC Krishnan s voice suited Thangavelu better.The long shots for NTR in Karnan averted the criticism for Ullathil Nalla Ullam.For Ravichandran "Sattai Kail" ...well it was my favourite song till i watched then scene.For Prem Nazir, a great song but a visual diaster.Singing for Sivakumar in Gumastavin Magal and Rajini in Ranuva veeran ..i would say it was the MDs fault on not SG s .We had a joke that SG s voice would not suit himself on-screen.Watch Agastiyar!

TMS s adaptability was remarkable with his voice matching Sivaji from 1958 to 1983 ,MGR s from 1959 to 1977.His voice moved along the Actors developments."Kandal Kollum Vishamai" and "Yyarantha Nilavu" ,TMS lived in Sivaji s songs.

TMS was defintely "less Classical" then Seerkazhi.But both had the "Jeevan" or the "Omkaram" in their voice without which we in 2002 would not be talking about them in the net.

Seerkazhi must have been the nicest person around those days.Even Anndurai had mentioned "Avarukkum namakkum idaye sila kodugal mattume uLLana -meaning Seerkazhi s Viboothi on the forehead"It is a great thing that Seerkazhi s son Sivachidamabaram has almost the same qualities as his father including his voice. TMS Selvakumar lost out somewhere and was a pale shadow of his father.Heard him singing "Enthan Pon vanname" in Ilankai Radio ..light years behind his father.Chidambaram too had some memorable film songs like "Abinaya Sundari","Odakkara Marimuthu".

Sivachidambaram IMO is not comparable to this father. In fact he spoils many of his father's songs in concerts by adding some unwanted sangatis which is not liked by rasikas like me. Odakkara marimuthu is a third-rate song which only ARR can compose. It is very unfortunate that singers like even Sivachidambaram wants to sing under ARR. Because he is no match to his father he is not being much sought after.

Chidambaram s voice suited the rustic villager shown on screen.That s all and the song was good.

Chida,i heard him singing once or twice and he did not disappoint this rasika of his illustrious father!

The topic is Sirkazhi Vs TMs and my post on the II generation of the famous singers and atleast related to the topic.It is so nice of you not have mentioned about the IV rated "Abinaya Sundari" by the nth rated poor Viswanathan.Sundar,you need a good antacid course.

From: LP (@ 172.171.49.64)
on: Sun Sep 1 16:54:53 EDT 2002
They both cannot be compared at all. TMS is a versatile singer who was in the top for many years. For two decades there was hardly any movie where TMS was not there. TMS with his variety in his voice was singing for MGR, Sivaji, Jai Shankar, Ravichandran, Sivakumar and practically everyone including Nagesh... He was like a pillar in TFM...

On the other hand Seerkazhi sang very few songs. If you are just comparing the talent in singing classical songs, then Seerkazhi may score a litte bit more. But if you consider the overall achievement in TFM, TMS's achievement is much much higher, and Seerkazhi is no where close...

Imagine hearing more than 3 or 4 Seerkazhi songs in a row.. It would be like a punishment!!

It was you who mentioned Odakkara...and asking where comes ARR?.. Funny. Sivachidambaram is definitely no match to his illustrious father and even some other Seergazhi echo singers are better than him. Can he reproduce his father in the immortal classics Sarasamohana (Kokilavani) or Parthukkondirunthaley podhum(Chithoor Rani Padmini)or Siripputhan varuguthaiya(Ponvayal)...really siripputhan varuguthaiya.

From: OISG (@ 193.188.97.152)
on: Tue Sep 3 08:31:46 EDT 2002
Sundar

Do u have a doctorate in Digressing?My mention about Chidambarmas one song burns you and makes you go bersek let me accept that Chidamabaram cannot match his father.Sundar!Neenga jaichutteenga!

LP

I suggest you the SG s HMV collection.You are absolutely right about TMS s contribution.But your comments on SG is harsh.Prob you heard "Angamellam Thangamo" from "Vazhaydi Vazhai"!

Listen to his "Abirami Andhadi".The closest one that can compare with that is "Ghantasala s" Bhagavad Gita.Really soulful singing.

From: LP (@ 172.131.239.204)
on: Tue Sep 3 10:11:02 EDT 2002
OISG,

I didn't mean to be rude on Seerkazhi. He is one of my favorite singers, I do have a SG collection. Some comments made by others on TMS in this thread would have probably made me write like this. I feel sorry about that...

OISG, i hope you did not mention this thinking that R.P.Sundar be yet another fan of you-know-who-is-it. If you did then i suggest you to visit ROS thread and as fellow forumers like MS, Ram, IR(not the MD) etc. R.P.Sundar generally uses such blatant terminologies, NOM. And IMO he doesn't have any bias or hidden agenda against this MD or that MD. So you may wish to read what he wishes to tell in the entire post using your editing skills.

NOM.

Coming back to the thread as a playback singer bhavam of the song and situation was aptly brought in more by TMS than by SG (IMO).

I think the MDs were not willing to experiment.There were occasional attempts only.Take for example "Kangalum Kavi paduthe" -Adi Narayn Rao has used SG for a real comedy song.MSV -TKR in Kadhalikka Neramillai,MSV in Anubhavi Raja Anubhavi.(when he sings Karumayana koondhal paadhi ..i enjoyed it thorughlly)

Great man you are that you have understood me more than anybody else in the forum. I have no words to express my inner feelings. I am very much pleased. It is friends (mugam theriyadha) like you who keep me in good stead. Thanx a lot.

From: rajah (@ )
on: Wed Sep 10 05:53:24 EDT 2003
i have met both singers and have listened to their rendation of cinema,devotional,and classical music.
for all the tea in china i will not trade serrgsli's temperement,talent,magananimity,and above all his humble nature with any one.tms or amy other singers!!!!.
he was definitely a great friend i lost so early.

From: patriot (@ 162.119.64.110)
on: Wed Sep 10 12:47:21 EDT 2003
TMS is a great achiever, extremely talented in singing all varieties of songs, where as Seerkaazhi is no where close to him except for some 'asareeri' songs. There are millions who would like to hear TMS's songs repeatedly, but how many would like to hear Seerkaazhi's songs repeatedly?? 9 out of 10 golden oldies are by TMS.

I tell all these things with due respect to Seerkaazhi.

Any Seerkaazhi song can be sung by TMS and make them popular, but it is impossible in the other way except for couple of high pitch songs.